IR + A + Infinitive

How to say you are going to do something.

ir

• You remember how to conjugate the verb ir:

Yo voy Nosotros/as vamos

Tú vas Vosotros/as vais

Él/ella/Ud. va Uds./ellos/ellas van

ir + a + location

• If you want to say you are going to a specific place, use the “ir + a + location” formula. – For example, if you want to say, “I am going to the

park” in Spanish you would say, “Voy al parque.”

Reminder

• To say “at the,” in Spanish, you would put “a + el” or “a + la.”

A + Definite Article (el, la, las)

• Remember that if “a” comes before the article “el,” it transforms into “al.”– a + el = al (example: al parque (a + el = al))

A + definite article

If “a” comes before the article “la,” it does not change.

-a + la = a la (example: a la biblioteca (a + la= a la))

If “a” comes before “las” then it stays as “a las.”

Practice “ir + a + location”• How would you say:– “I am going to the gym.” • Voy al gimnasio. (a + el = al)

Practice “ir + a + location”

– “They are going to the beach.”• Van a la playa.

More Practice with “ir + a + location”

– “We are going to the mountains.”• Vamos a las montañas.

“ir + a + location”

– “They are going to the swimming pool.• Van a la piscina.

“ir + a + location”

– “He is going to the country.”• Él va al campo.

Infinitives

• What is an infinitive?– The infinitive is the un-conjugated form of a verb.

Infinitives

– In English, “to be” “to go” or “to have” are all examples of un-conjugated verbs.

Infinitives

• In Spanish, infinitives are the un-conjugated verbs that end in –ir, -er, or –ar. For example, “ir,” “nadar,” and “hablar” are un-conjugated verbs.

ir + a + infinitive

• If you want to say you are going to do something, you would use the formula, “ir + a + infinitive.”

Example of “ir + a + infinitive”

• For example, if you wanted to say, • “I am going to swim,” then you would say

– “Voy a nadar.”

Steps to using “ir + a + infinitive”

“I am going to swim at the swimming pool.”

– Step 1: First, find your subject in the sentence.I is your subject. So conjugate “ir” in the I form to

say “I am going…” 1. Voy

Step 2:

– Add “a” behind the conjugated form of “ir” 2. Voy a

Step 3:

– Put the infinitive, “to swim” behind “a.” 3. Voy a nadar

Step 4:

• Then, put “a la piscina” to say “at the swimming pool.

4. Voy a nadar a la piscina.

Practice with “ir + a + infinitive”

• I am going to read at the library.– Voy a leer a la biblioteca.

Practice with “ir + a + infinitive”

• She is going to walk in the mountains. – Ella va a caminar a las montañas.

More examples (más ejemplos)

• They are going to shop at the mall.– Ellos van a ir de compras al centro comercial.

More examples (más ejemplos)

• We are going to swim at the beach.– Vamos a nadar a la playa.

More examples (más ejemplos)

• You all are going to see a movie. – Uds. van a ver la película.